HARRISBURG – Sen. Dawn Keefer (R-31) was sworn into her first term in the Pennsylvania State Senate on Tuesday. Keefer represents the 31st Senatorial District, encompassing parts of Cumberland and York counties. The swearing-in ceremony officially starts the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s 2025-26 legislative session.
“I am very humbled at the thought of representing over a quarter million residents of York and Cumberland counties living in the 31st Senatorial District, many of whom I represented in the state House of Representatives’ 92nd Legislative District,” said Keefer. “Serving as a state senator is not something I take lightly, and I plan to hit the ground running on day one. I strongly believe government that governs least governs best, so I will continue working to right-size and rein in our government wherever I can, be that through the state budget process, regulatory reform or increasing transparency in how our government operates.
After being sworn in, Keefer was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) as chair of the Senate Local Government Committee. The Local Government Committee is responsible for reviewing legislation that affects Pennsylvania’s more than 2,500 county and municipal government entities. The committee also has oversight of the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System and the Pennsylvania Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff’s Education and Training Board.
Keefer has more than 27 years of professional and government experience. She operated her own consulting firm for more than 10 years and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2017 until her election to the state Senate.
In 2022, Dawn established and chaired Pennsylvania’s Freedom Caucus. Under her leadership, the caucus fought for policy solutions to limit government and empower individuals and businesses, while serving as the backstop against initiatives attempting to grow government or siphon freedoms.
As the next senator of the 31st Senatorial District, she remains committed to reining in government, supporting Pennsylvania workers and jobs, and defending the rights and freedoms of all the commonwealth’s resident, with the core of her legislative actions focused on improving the lives of Pennsylvanians.
Dawn, her husband Tom, and their three children reside in Dillsburg, York County.
You can view the video of the swearing-in ceremony here.
Contact: Jessica Wood 717-787-8524